In state tourney in singles for second straight season

Published: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 10:00 AM.

SNOW
HILL — Swansboro junior Anthony Brennan is doing more than going back to the NCHSAA 2-A state tennis championships in singles for a second straight year.

He’s going back as the NCHSAA East Regional champion

After blanking Robert Taylor of Greene Central 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals Saturday, Brennan claimed the regional title when Eben Wells of First Flight retired because of a hip flexor injury. Brennan was leading 3-2 at the time.

The state finals begin Friday at the Cary Tennis Center, with the seedings to be determined next week.

“I took a lot of pride out of it, but it didn’t end so well (because of the injury),” Brennan said. “But I felt good in that match. I feel like I would have won it. I only lost three games (in his first three regional matches) going up into that match.”

Brennan said Wells went for a ball and fell to the court when the injury occurred.

“He fell the next point, too,” Brennan said. “And we played another few points and he fell again. Then he couldn’t get back up. Then he got up and we sat down for like 15 minutes and then he forfeited the match because he didn’t want to injure it further.”

SNOW HILL — Swansboro junior Anthony Brennan is doing more than going back to the NCHSAA 2-A state tennis championships in singles for a second straight year.

He’s going back as the NCHSAA East Regional champion

After blanking Robert Taylor of Greene Central 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals Saturday, Brennan claimed the regional title when Eben Wells of First Flight retired because of a hip flexor injury. Brennan was leading 3-2 at the time.

The state finals begin Friday at the Cary Tennis Center, with the seedings to be determined next week.

“I took a lot of pride out of it, but it didn’t end so well (because of the injury),” Brennan said. “But I felt good in that match. I feel like I would have won it. I only lost three games (in his first three regional matches) going up into that match.”

Brennan said Wells went for a ball and fell to the court when the injury occurred.

“He fell the next point, too,” Brennan said. “And we played another few points and he fell again. Then he couldn’t get back up. Then he got up and we sat down for like 15 minutes and then he forfeited the match because he didn’t want to injure it further.”

As one of the top four out of the regional, Wells had already assured himself a spot in the state championships.

Brennan, who lost in the regional finals a year ago and later in the state quarterfinals, said he feels good going into the state championships.

“I feel confident,” he said.

Coach Megan Mahone said Brennan played well during the two-day regionals, which saw him win five of his six full singles sets 6-0.

“He was really strong out there. It was pretty windy, but he did not let that faze him,” Mahone said. “He looked confident out there. He had great momentum. It’s a little disappointing to see that flight (not play out). That really was going to be an awesome final match. At least what we saw of it was really good.”